.png)
Following the launch of Israeli-American military operations in Iran on February 28, Cardinal Dominique Mathieu—the Belgian Archbishop of Tehran-Isfahan—has been safely evacuated to Rome. After a period of concerning silence caused by communication blackouts, the Cardinal confirmed he departed alongside Italian embassy staff, arriving in Italy on Sunday, March 8.
Current situation regarding the Cardinal and the Catholic community in Iran:
The Cardinal’s Departure
Cardinal Mathieu expressed deep emotional conflict regarding his forced departure from the region. In a message sent on March 9, to the Belgium Catholic site Cathobel, he stated:
"I arrived in Rome yesterday, not without regret and sorrow for our brothers and sisters in Iran, as part of the complete evacuation of the Italian embassy, the seat of the archdiocese. Until I return there, pray for the conversion of hearts to inner peace."
The Cardinal had previously committed to an "apostolate of presence," remaining in Tehran despite having no priests or deacons to assist him in serving the city's five parishes.
State of the Catholic Community
The evacuation highlights the increasingly volatile environment for Christians in Iran.
Demographics: Out of approximately 1 million Christians in the country, only nearly 5,000 are registered as Catholic.
Legal Pressure: Even prior to the current military conflict, the community faced significant repression. In 2025, the Tehran community saw increased dispersion following crackdowns on Catholic women married to Iranian citizens.
Diplomatic Status: Because the Consolata Cathedral is located on Italian embassy grounds, it had previously benefited from diplomatic protections that have now been complicated by the full evacuation of the embassy staff.
What Lies Ahead
Cardinal Mathieu is scheduled to meet with Holy See officials to provide a briefing on the ground realities in Iran. While he had hoped his 2024 elevation to Cardinal would "foster dialogue between himself and the Iranian authorities, and between the mullahs' regime and the Holy See," those diplomatic avenues have proven increasingly restricted by the outbreak of war.
Source: https://www.cathobel.be/2026/03/le-cardinal-dominique-mathieu-archeveque-belge-de-teheran-a-ete-evacue-a-rome/
Comments